Ghosts of Seasons Past Haunt CSUN : Basketball: Matadors lose to Fullerton, 80-71, for 0-2 record, recall recent stumbling starts.

Well, at least one Cal State Northridge alumnus is happy.

Bob Hawking, a 1971 Northridge graduate, earned his first victory as a college coach Tuesday night at Titan Gymnasium when Cal State Fullerton downed his alma mater, 80-71, in a nonconference game before a crowd of 674.

Hawking, who guided Simi Valley High to a Southern Section championship and five Marmonte League titles in 14 seasons as coach, took over Fullerton’s program in late September. He replaced Brad Holland, who left for the University of San Diego.

“The first win is always something you look back on,” Hawking said. “I still remember my first high school win.”

Northridge players and coaches have a few memories of their own.

Such as an 0-4 and 1-10 start last season, 0-3 the season before, 0-10 before that, and 0-3 before that.

“We don’t want that to happen this year,” said Northridge guard Ryan Martin, who came off the bench to score 21 points. “If we let this get us down, the same thing can happen again.”

Fullerton, a consensus choice among coaches and media to finish in the Big West Conference basement, made 47.4% of its shots in its opener. Northridge (0-2) made 35% on the tails of 35.7% shooting in its opening loss to UCLA.

“We’re not getting the ball inside, and when we did we were getting (shots) blocked left and right,” Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy said. “Even when we did get it inside, we didn’t score.”

Peter Micelli, who had 13 points and eight rebounds, was the Matadors’ only real inside scoring threat.

Northridge held a four-point lead midway through the second half before Fullerton caught fire.

Chris St. Clair, a sophomore reserve, ignited a 10-point Titan run by making a three-point basket to pull Fullerton to within 59-58. He then hit a running bank shot with 6:35 left to give the Titans the lead for good.

A three-point basket by James French, plus a layup and three-pointer by Chris Dade completed the run and gave Fullerton a 68-62 lead with a little less than five minutes to play.

Fullerton led by nine points with 57 seconds remaining, but the Matadors had their chances.

The Titans held a 75-71 lead with 43 seconds to go and Northridge had Micelli, a career 76% free-throw shooter, at the line for two shots. He made only one.

“I’m not blaming him,” Martin said. “But if Pete makes that free throw, it’s a one-possession game.”

Fullerton’s Chuck Overton, a JC All-American last season at Salt Lake City College, made five of six free throws in the final 41 seconds.

Overton scored 14 points. Winston Peterson added 15 points and nine rebounds, and St. Clair had 15 points and four steals.

Northridge’s only basket in more than eight minutes late in the game was Martin’s three-pointer--the only shot he made in the second half, when he had five points.